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Letters to My Mother: The Making of a Troublemaker
This is more than a book.
This is a blazing voyage.
Growing up in apartheid-era Chatsworth, Kumi Naidoo tells how his mother’s suicide when he was just 15 years old acted as a catalyst for his journey into radical action against the apartheid regime. In this revelatory and intimate story, Kumi describes his political awakening, and his experiences as a young community organiser and underground ANC activist during the 1980s. His grief and anger became fuel for his efforts to help liberate South Africa and to build a better world.
This is a blazing voyage.
Growing up in apartheid-era Chatsworth, Kumi Naidoo tells how his mother’s suicide when he was just 15 years old acted as a catalyst for his journey into radical action against the apartheid regime. In this revelatory and intimate story, Kumi describes his political awakening, and his experiences as a young community organiser and underground ANC activist during the 1980s. His grief and anger became fuel for his efforts to help liberate South Africa and to build a better world.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
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49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 7, 2024
I've just finished reading Kumi Naidoo 's
"Letters to my Mother".
Whilst I purchased my copy at an Inclusive Books store at OR Tambo airport, Johannesburg on my return flight to the UK in 2022, I'm embarrassed to say, it sat on my book shelf 4 chapters in as my work and volunteer life had me otherwise distracted.
I am so glad that I picked the book up again this weekend - I was not able to stop until I'd devoured every last word with as much gusto as I would scoff mum's breyani and brinjal dhall!
My motivation, being a web link my brother Links Govender shared with me, following a recent interview Kumi gave in San Francisco. As someone who cares deeply for our environment, the interview was inspiring and reminded me of his book beckoning silently from behind a dusty copy Khaled Hosseini's " The Kite Runner".
Kumi writes with heart tugging honesty and authenticity...combined with one's own imagination, it places you at the very scene of each of his many adventurous encounters.
I remember my older brother, a comrade and part of the struggle to fight Apartheid, and who was also a student at University of Durban Westville in the 80s, speaking fondly of Kumi many times when I was still a teenager. I was thrilled to even see my brother's name at the end of Kumi's book within the many acknowledgements of the people in Kumi's life. My brother Links who is currently a Chief Education Specialist in Johannesburg, has always been and remains one of my earlier role models.
I recognised many household names in the book too, names like Bunker and Michael Singh, as these guys are still friends with my brother. Other names evoke unpleasant memories too, like Rajbansi and Eugene de Kok, (although the time he fell off his horse brings a giggle to mind, no wait...that was Eugene Terreblanche.) And off course, beloved Madiba, Nelson Mandela, brings a fond memory of when we shook hands when I worked at The Star newspaper as a Graphic journalist.
I digress, but such is the nostalgic power of "Letters to my Mother".
This book, is not just packed with shocking truths and injustices inflicted during Apartheid, but tells of the resilience, strength of character and sheer courage of one Indian boy who rose above many challenges.
It tells of the pain and heartache of losing his mother to suicide and the kind family, friends and colleagues who helped him keep his head above water to keep soaring, lifting up others along the way in his fight for humanity and this planet.
Kumi's words inspires much self soul searching and is a stark reminder to be grateful for whatever time we have on this planet, and to not only use it wisely and efficiently for good, but to remember to leave enough room for family and loved ones so there's no room for regret.
"Letters to my Mother".
Whilst I purchased my copy at an Inclusive Books store at OR Tambo airport, Johannesburg on my return flight to the UK in 2022, I'm embarrassed to say, it sat on my book shelf 4 chapters in as my work and volunteer life had me otherwise distracted.
I am so glad that I picked the book up again this weekend - I was not able to stop until I'd devoured every last word with as much gusto as I would scoff mum's breyani and brinjal dhall!
My motivation, being a web link my brother Links Govender shared with me, following a recent interview Kumi gave in San Francisco. As someone who cares deeply for our environment, the interview was inspiring and reminded me of his book beckoning silently from behind a dusty copy Khaled Hosseini's " The Kite Runner".
Kumi writes with heart tugging honesty and authenticity...combined with one's own imagination, it places you at the very scene of each of his many adventurous encounters.
I remember my older brother, a comrade and part of the struggle to fight Apartheid, and who was also a student at University of Durban Westville in the 80s, speaking fondly of Kumi many times when I was still a teenager. I was thrilled to even see my brother's name at the end of Kumi's book within the many acknowledgements of the people in Kumi's life. My brother Links who is currently a Chief Education Specialist in Johannesburg, has always been and remains one of my earlier role models.
I recognised many household names in the book too, names like Bunker and Michael Singh, as these guys are still friends with my brother. Other names evoke unpleasant memories too, like Rajbansi and Eugene de Kok, (although the time he fell off his horse brings a giggle to mind, no wait...that was Eugene Terreblanche.) And off course, beloved Madiba, Nelson Mandela, brings a fond memory of when we shook hands when I worked at The Star newspaper as a Graphic journalist.
I digress, but such is the nostalgic power of "Letters to my Mother".
This book, is not just packed with shocking truths and injustices inflicted during Apartheid, but tells of the resilience, strength of character and sheer courage of one Indian boy who rose above many challenges.
It tells of the pain and heartache of losing his mother to suicide and the kind family, friends and colleagues who helped him keep his head above water to keep soaring, lifting up others along the way in his fight for humanity and this planet.
Kumi's words inspires much self soul searching and is a stark reminder to be grateful for whatever time we have on this planet, and to not only use it wisely and efficiently for good, but to remember to leave enough room for family and loved ones so there's no room for regret.
February 10, 2025
If you are interested in reading about apartheid angst this book is for you. The book begins with a letter to Naidoo’s mother who committed suicide when he was 15. Born in Chatsworth, Durban in 1965, the author writes with heart tugging honesty and authenticity of how this followed him throughout his life and how it became a catalyst for his journey into radical action against the Nationalist Party's apartheid regime. His first step was to co-found the Helping Hands Youth Organisation. He went on to organise students in school boycotts against the apartheid regime and its educational system in South Africa.
Naidoo's activism grew from neighbourhood organising and community youth work to civil disobedience with mass mobilisations against the white controlled apartheid government.
Most of the book is about his activism work in South Africa, living underground to escape being imprisoned for his beliefs. Having been arrested many times he went into exile. He was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and studied at Oxford University and earned a doctorate in political sociology. After Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, he returned to South Africa to work on the legalisation of the ANC and to lead the adult literacy campaigns and voter education efforts.
The book ends with another letter to his mother. This time he tells her the devastating news about the suicide of one of his children.
Having met Naidoo on a Greenpeace ship docked at Cape Town harbour I was looking forward to reading about his activism for the environment. He was International Executive Director of Greenpeace International and Secretary General of Amnesty International. Naidoo also served as the Secretary-General of the international alliance for citizen participation CIVICUS from 1998 to 2008. More recently he was appointed president of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. In a recent interview, he outlines his bold vision for the treaty and explains why the time for action is now. Sadly there is none of this in the book.
Naidoo's activism grew from neighbourhood organising and community youth work to civil disobedience with mass mobilisations against the white controlled apartheid government.
Most of the book is about his activism work in South Africa, living underground to escape being imprisoned for his beliefs. Having been arrested many times he went into exile. He was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and studied at Oxford University and earned a doctorate in political sociology. After Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, he returned to South Africa to work on the legalisation of the ANC and to lead the adult literacy campaigns and voter education efforts.
The book ends with another letter to his mother. This time he tells her the devastating news about the suicide of one of his children.
Having met Naidoo on a Greenpeace ship docked at Cape Town harbour I was looking forward to reading about his activism for the environment. He was International Executive Director of Greenpeace International and Secretary General of Amnesty International. Naidoo also served as the Secretary-General of the international alliance for citizen participation CIVICUS from 1998 to 2008. More recently he was appointed president of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. In a recent interview, he outlines his bold vision for the treaty and explains why the time for action is now. Sadly there is none of this in the book.
September 17, 2024
This memoir is a powerful reflection of Kumi Naidoo’s life and activism; starting with a letter to his mother -- which he writes to tell her about his life after she died by suicide when he was fifteen. This tragic event was the catalyst for him to fight against apartheid, which the majority of the book is about. An in-depth and personal look at an activist’s struggle against apartheid, I recommend it to everyone! 4.5/5 stars
April 21, 2023
Letters to my mother by Kumi Naidoo is a good book. Well written and great storytelling technique. Love it and highly recommend it. Very educational too!
February 20, 2024
I loved this book. Incredible life story. Can't wait to see the book get wider reach.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews